-- In this special season of love and giving, I would like to express my gratitude that I live in a community that reaches out to the least fortunate among us in so many ways. May God richly bless all those nonprofits and religious organizations, their staff members and volunteers who bring comfort to so many year-round.

Live Oak: ‘Preserve it’

-- One of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth is Live Oak Landing. A few of the best days and nights of my life were spent there. The scenery is beautiful. There’s fishing, boating and swimming available. Please preserve it for future generations.

Live Oak: ‘A rip-off’

-- Live Oak Landing is a boondoggle. There is no way the County Commission should pay that much money for some property that is not worth that much. It’s a rip-off to taxpayers.

A gift of kindness

-- There are a lot of good, honest people out there and I want to thank the one who rescued my purse from a grocery cart. I had left it in the Publix parking lot. Also, thanks to Publix for researching family phone numbers and calling to tell them the store had my purse.

Toll roads for all

-- I’m sick of Mobile people hollering about workers coming from Baldwin County and how we need to get a toll from them. And what about your snobs that come to Baldwin County to work and buy stuff? Or go up to ThyssenKrupp? Are you going to put tolls for all them, too?

Tough guy at the top

-- Well, I have been calling Sound Off for years to get the mayor to do something about crime. Now, he’s taken over a crime scene himself. Hooray for him.

Pump-action pal

-- I was just watching Channel 10 news and they were giving security tips for your house. I’d like to add my six recommendations for safety: One 12-gauge shotgun and five triple-ought buckshot, and don’t be afraid to use it.

Speak out, Stephanie

-- This is for Stephanie Nodd, who was in prison for drugs: Time is too short. Tell your story so others can learn from your mistakes. You’ve proved yourself. Hopefully these impressionable kids will take listen and take heed.

Keep ‘Bip’ behind bars

-- Let me see if I have this right: Homes were broken into. Property was stolen. Families were torn apart. But we want to put “Bip” Beasley back out on the street? I don’t care if he’s 79. Why should he come home to comfort when so many lives were ruined?

Here come the haters

-- It seems like every time we have a decline in our economy, someone has to start hating someone else to make themselves feel better. I think that’s what’s happening now with the poor Mexicans. They don’t want anything but a hand up and anybody that is not willing to give them that certainly shouldn’t be going to church on Sunday, because it’s not doing you any good.

Pay a living wage

-- About the farmers complaining about the immigration law: They need to get over it. Slavery has been over for a long time. Hire legal workers and pay them a fair wage. Take out taxes and Social Security. If you can’t afford to do that, plant less labor-intensive crops.

A problem thrust upon us

-- The argument that immigration is federal territory and not the states’ business is all well and good except for one thing: When anyone illegally crosses to this country, they don’t usually go to Washington, D.C. They usually come into the 50 states, mainly the Lower 48. Therefore, it becomes a state issue.

Make my suds a biggie

-- Forget fighting the Alabama immigration law. If you look at the number of fast-food restaurants there are from Cottage Hill to Airport, it’s just ridiculous. You’ve got two McDonald’s, a Whataburger, Wendy’s. I hear in other states they’re letting fast-food chains sell alcoholic drinks. They better not try that here.